St. Matthew Lutheran Church

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Prelude: Meditation on Materna

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Hymn: “Jesus Shall Reign” LBW # 530, vs 1- 5

Confession & Forgiveness

Greeting & Kyrie

Canticle of Praise: “Glory to God…”

Prayer of the Day

First Reading, Zachariah 9:9-12

Psalm # 145:1-14

Second Reading, Romans 7:14-25a

Holy Gospel, Matthew 11:25-30

Sermon

Hymn of the Day: “Jesus, the Very Thought of You” – LBW # 316, vs 1 - 4

Apostle’s Creed

Prayers of the Church

The Lord’s Prayer

Blessing

Dismissal

Sending Hymn: “He Leadeth Me: Oh, Blessed Thought!” - LBW # 501, vs 1 – 4

Postlude: “The National Anthem”

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Service Supplement

(Congregational responses are in bold print)

Prelude                                              Meditation on Materna

 

Welcome and Announcements            Pastor John

 

Gathering Hymn “Jesus Shall Reign”     LBW # 530, vs 1 – 5

Jesus shall reign where'er the sun Does its successive journeys run; His Kingdom stretch from shore to shore, Till moons shall wax and wane no more.

To Him shall endless prayer be made, And praises throng to crown His head; His name like sweet perfume shall rise With every morning sacrifice.

People and realms of every tongue Dwell on His love with sweetest song; And infant voices shall proclaim Their early blessings on His name.

Blessings abound where'er He reigns: The prisoner leaps to lose their chains, The weary find eternal rest, And all who suffer want are blest.

Let every creature rise and bring Honors peculiar to our King; Angels descend with songs again, And earth repeat the loud Amen.

 

Confession & Forgiveness       

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever. Amen.

 

God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve

you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may live in your hearts through faith. Amen.

 

Greeting

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.

 

Kyrie         

In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.  Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen.

 

Canticle of Praise  “Glory to God…”

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

Prayer of the Day           

Let us pray…O God, you never undermine your purpose, as you perfectly provide for all that you create. Remove from our way all that is harmful and give us what will profit that we may share in your invincible grace; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Amen.

 

First Reading                                      Zachariah 9:9-12

When the Israelites returned from Babylon and their situation of captivity, they found more difficulties at home. Fraught with religious, economic, social, and political issues, God pronounced his glorious vision of Israel’s future: God will act on their behalf and send a new King to save them.

 

9Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. 11As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. 12Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. This is the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

 

Psalm # 145:1-15 

The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. This psalm of praise to the Lord extols the wonders of God’s mercy and the glorious works of his hands.

 

I will exalt you, O God my King, and bless your name forever and ever.

Every day will I bless you and praise your Name forever and ever.

Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised; there is no end to his greatness.

One generation shall praise your works to another and shall declare your power.

I will ponder the glorious splendor of your majesty and all your marvelous works.

They shall speak of the might of your wondrous acts, and I will tell of your greatness.

They shall publish the remembrance of your great goodness; they shall sing of your righteous deeds.

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and of great kindness.

The Lord is loving to everyone and his compassion is over all his works.

All your works praise you, O Lord, and your faithful servants bless you.

They make known the glory of your kingdom and speak of your power;

That the peoples may know of your power and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; your dominion endures throughout all ages.

The Lord is faithful in all his words and merciful in all his deeds.

The Lord upholds all those who fall; he lifts up those who are bowed down.

 

Second Reading:                                Romans 7:14-25a

Paul described the conflict within him concerning following the law and giving in to sin. He said he does things he does not want to do but is unable to do the good he would like to do. The flesh is held captive to sin, but the mind and heart are slaves to the law of God. We are rescued from this inner conflict by Christ our Lord.

 

14We know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. 15For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. 16Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. 17So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 18For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 19For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. 21So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25aThanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!…This is the Word of God, word of life, thanks be to God.

 

Holy Gospel: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 11th Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord. Matthew 11:25-30: The yoke that connects two evenly matched animals together makes their task much easier to accomplish. Jesus, who is stronger than we are, invites those who are weighed down with the burdens of life and sin to come to him, and he will place his yoke upon them. Those who do so will discover the gentle and humble nature of our Lord, whose yoke makes life easier and lighter for us as we trust in him.

 

25Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” This is the gospel of the Lord, praise to you, O Christ.

 

Sermon                                             Pastor John

 

Hymn of the Day  Jesus, the Very…”    LBW # 316, vs 1 - 4

Jesus, the very thought of you Fills us with sweet delight; But sweeter far your face to view And rest within your light.

 

No voice can sing, no heart can frame, Nor can the mind recall A sweeter sound than your blest name, O Savior of us all!

 

O Hope of every contrite soul, O Joy of all the meek, How kind you are to those who fall! How good to those who seek!

 

O Jesus, be our joy today; Help us to prize your love; Grant us at last to hear you say: “Come, share my home above.”

 

Apostle’s Creed:

Let us join together in confessing our faith with the saints who have gone before us, in the words of the Apostles’ Creed:

 

I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

 

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Prayers of the Church    

(P): Strengthened by the Spirit who gives us words to speak and hearts that care, let us bring our hopes and needs to God who listens. A brief silence.

(W): Lord God, we thank you for all the faithful saints who live by faith and seek to do your will among us. Guide your Church in faithfully sharing your holy Word and Sacraments, in teaching and in preaching, in caring and in nurturing, and encourage your people to serve you as instruments of your love for all. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Ever-present God, you sent your prophets and apostles out into a faithless world that rejects the truth of Jesus Christ. Be with all who suffer persecution, especially those who bear faithful witness to your saving grace that is offered to all people. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Lord and Guardian of our souls, you have established law and order for our sake and the sake of our neighbors. Protect all who dedicate their lives to keeping us safe. We remember especially those serving in law enforcement. Protect our police, sheriffs, security officers, and other first responders in our community, and all who work to keep us safe from harm. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Gracious God and Father, your Son stooped to heal those who were wounded and weary. Fill with joy the hearts of all who suffer in mind, body, or spirit. Turn their sorrow into joy, their suffering into health, and their cries for help into shouts of praise. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(P): We lift our prayers to you, God of mercy, confident that all things are in your hands. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

 

The Lord’s Prayer                   

Let us pray the prayer our Savior taught us…Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.

 

Blessing     

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.

 

Dismissal   

Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.

 

Sending Hymn  He Leadeth Me…”         LBW # 501, vs 1 – 4

He leadeth me: oh, blessed thought! Oh, words with heavenly comfort fraught! Whate'er I do, where'er I be, Still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.


(Refrain:) He leadeth me, he leadeth me, By his own hand he leadeth me. His faithful follower I would be, For by his hand he leadeth me.


Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom, Sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom, By waters still calm, o'er troubled sea, Still 'tis God’s hand that leadeth me. (Refrain)


Lord, I would clasp thy hand in mine, Nor ever murmur nor repine; Content, whatever lot I see, Since 'tis my God that leadeth me. (Refrain)


And when my task on earth is done, When by thy grace the victory's won, Even death's cold wave I will not flee, Since God through Jordan leadeth me. (Refrain)

 

Postlude                National Anthem: The Star Spangled Banner

 

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Announcements

Youth Clothing Drive is still on and will be collecting items until July 12th. Call the church to schedule your drop off.

 

Current weekly services:

Please visit the “Messages” page of our website at www.stmatthewbq.org for latest on our services or listen for our “One Call” announcements for updates and events.

 

Not receiving the “One Call”? Please call the office and provide a good number for our list. Thank you!